hello, everyone. breaking developments this hour in the month's long debate over raising the nation's debt ceiling. this has been playing out for quite a while. finally -- finally we're seeing the makings of a deal right now in washington. they're really playing it close here. the deadline is tonight. when the asian markets start to open. by any means, senator harry reid, democratic leader in the senate and one of the key players in the long debate has signed off on terms of an agreement. his support, we should note, is pending the approval of his fellow senate democrats. i want to go straight to kate baldwin standing by on capitol hill. okay, kate, is this the moment that we have been waiting for? >> reporter: i think it's a step

in the right direction in terms of reaching a compromise. the big question remains while we have heard that harry reid signed off on the deal, where do republicans -- the key republican negotiators in this whole deal, where do they stand on the issue? in the house as well as in the senate. well, we're still obviously looking to get guidance on that. we have heard from one top senate republican leadership aide who said at least -- at least right now they're not there yet saying the agreement is not done and that they're still working on it. so it seems that while harry reid, he's onboard. seems at least for the part of senate republicans, seems there needs to be a little more work to be done before -- to get them onboard as well. >> okay. a little more work. do you have any idea about the timing? or we just don't know? it happens when it happens? >> to be honest, i don't think anyone really knows about the timing. this story has changed from moment to moment. it's very fluid. it's always the question, i promise you, it's the question

that we've been asking every senator we've been talking to today as they've been in session is you could get a deal to might? could you get a vote tonight? all the questions we've been tossing at them. what we heard from them is we don't know. when the deal is struck, the deal will be struck. and then they'll move forward. but i have heard kind of mixed messages. if people really wanted to do it, they could possibly move forward with a vote later this evening. i heard that from one senator. another senator saying he didn't think they could get the bill kind of written up in time that they would have to do something possibly tomorrow. but that's getting way ahead of ourselves. once the deal is figured out, then they'll find -- if they have the -- if they have the desire to, they'll find a quick path forward. >> if anyone knows how much is changing, it's you. you have been covering this and you've been there on capitol hill following all of these people. you know, it's just amazing. it seems like you and i were here for the health care debate and all the other things, always comes down to the last second we're doing. this. >> reporter: they do like to say that democracy is messy up here. i don't know if they like to use that as cover for them electing

to sneak right up near the deadline or not. but we definitely do like to hunt deadlines tightly here. >> you're not going anywhere. i know. >> stand by, kate. thank you very much. let's go to capitol hill now -- from capitol hill to the white house where dan loathian is standing by. so, dan, what's the president doing now while the senate moves are happening? do we know? >> reporter: we know there are a lot of conversation that's have been on going here at the white house today in term of the president's specific schedule. the white house has not released any details on that. what i can tell you, according to sources is the vice president has been deep in negotiations not only internally here at the white house but also with lawmakers up on the hill and at least according to one source he's been meeting with the president as well. so we can only imagine that the president has been meeting with not only the vice president but other top advisors here at the white house. the one thing that top aides have been pointing tout us is that, yes, you know, there is a lot of encouragement behind

this. there has been significant progress being made. on the other hand, they're also sending out a word of caution that there is no deal. we have been repeating this over and over again. no deal until they get a deal because there is still some difference thats that remain. clearly, they've been close to this line several times in the past going back to july 4th. one source pointing out they thought they had a deal over the july 4th weekend. the difference this time is that, you know, we're -- the clock is winding down. we only have a few hours left before that august 2nd deadline. >> august 2nd deadline. we really have less than that for until the markets open tomorrow, asian and european markets. and that is really going to be the thing that shapes all of this. what happens when those markets open? and the white house, dan, is very aware of that. that's why they're wanting, i think, something to get done by tonight before those markets open. >> reporter: you're right. look, the white house is very aware of the impact of what this could have on the markets.

in fact, one of the senior advisors of the white house on the sunday morning shows pointed thut already, i mean, even if a deal is reached, can you take a look at how the uncertainty has created havoc for the stock markets and other concerns among the minds of americans. and so, yes, they are paying very close attention to what a pending decision would mean to sort of deflect some of the concerns that we've seen in the financial sectorment. >> as well they should. dan loathian, thanks very much. kate baldwin, too, is standing by this washington. and as we follow this breaking developments, we wanted to show you something that happened in the senate today that struck us as extraordinary but only because it happened so rarely. two senators, one from each party, holding a courteous grown-up discussion on taxes, spending and the issues behind the debt ceiling debate. it's the kind of thing a lot of americans have been hoping to see for a long time. here's democrat dishg durbin and john mccain.

>> one of the real bedrock beliefs among republicans is that if you cut taxes, particularly on the wealthiest people in america, the economy will prosper. we hear that over and over again. didn't we try that experiment under president george w. bush? didn't the debt of the united states double under the president and he left a shambleses behind him? 2.3 million jobs lost in the first three months of president obama's administration because of this failed economic policy which you continue to espouse, that if we cut taxes on the rich, america is going to get wealthier? haven't we tried it? where are the jobs? >> could i take a trip down memory lane with my friend from illinois, who i had the great privilege of many years ago, i don't know if i should mention, we came to the house of representatives together, and might recall one of his own, a democrat congressman from texas, got together with president reagan, and guess what we did? we cut taxes, and guess what?

we had one of the strongest recoveies in recent history in this country. could i just -- because we didn't start spending and add spending without paying for them. i would say to the senator from illinois, he is correct. the spending that went up in the previous administration was not acceptable and led to the deficit. let me just finish. speaking for myself, i voted for the medicare part d because it was not paid for. i voted against the earmark in pork barrel spending which were abundant as every appropriations bill came to the floor and dramatically increased spending in the worst way. wasteful and corrupt way i will say. and i'm proud that at least some of us said if you don't stop this spending and get it under control, then you're going to face a serious problem. what i would also mention, and you've seen the char, it's gotzen a lot worse, gotten a lot worse since the last election.

and you can't keep biob -- you can't keep up blaming it on bush. go ahead. >> i'd like to respond to my colleague through the chair. does he recall what happened with the reagan tax cuts? because what happened was we tripled the national debt during that period of time, and president reagan came to congress 18 times to extend the debt ceiling. he holds the record. so to argue the reagan tax cuts led to great long-term prosperity is i think seriously in doubt if you're going to use the deficit as a measure. >> if i could say we believe and reagan believed cutting tax cuts would restore our economy, which was in the tank thanks to the practices of the previous administration before him. and reagan presided over probably one of the greatest job creation periods in the history of this country. and those are numbers that i would be glad to insert in the record. compare that with what has

happened since this administration took office with the promise that if we passed obama care, if we passed t.a.r.p., all these others that the economy would then be restored and grow. again, it's hard for my dear friend from illinois to refute the fact that the categorically stated that if we pass the, quote, stimulus package, that unemployment would be at a maximum of 8%. unemployment today is 9.2%. and if you look at any indicator, whether it be housing starts, whether it be the deficit, whether it be unemployed, whatever it is, it's gotten worse since the stimulus package was passed rather than better. >> imagine that. no notes, no talking points, just a civilized discussion. i want to have one right now. i'm joined by will cane in new

york and jamie harrison, a democratic strategist. good to see both of you. whoa. how about that? >> yeah, it's good, don. it's not great. i don't know if i'm quite as impressed as you are. they're having a pretty decent debate about what leads to a better economic environment. is it one of low taxes and low government spending? or is it one of high taxes and high government spending? but they keep mixing up two things. that is whether or not what contributes to the deficit and what contributes to a good economic environment? as they referenced as durbin references, look, you had low taxes during reagan. you had high deficits. he's right. the issue is about the economy. >> but i have to say that i am just impressed because they're talking to each other and not talking at each other. that is rather, you know, whatever they're talking about, that's important. but they're actually doing -- using the senate floor, what it's supposed to be used for, jamie. >> yeah, you're right. where has civility been in washington? it's so good and refreshing to

see members of congress getting on the floor and debating each other without calling each other names. this is what we need back in washington. this is what the president's been asking for. for some debate about the issues and then coming together and get compromise. >> okay. we'll have more on that extraordinary back and forth on the senate floor. plus you will join us after the break. if you want to talk to me about the debt crisis and what should get done, what do you want to see get done? reach out on twitter and facebook. and get it done. my special report with wolf blitzer coming up 9:00 eastern right here on cnn. we're back in just moments. hey, the new guy is loaded with protein!

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the senator from illinois, i believe that we're close to an agreement here. >> i hope so. >> and does the senator from illinois agree that most likely that agreement will not have an increase in taxes associated with it? at least in short term? >> i hope not. >> you hope so? >> i hope that there's revenue included in any agreement. >> old school senators who know a thing or two about negotiations. frankly, don't always do what they're supposed to do on the senate floor. talk, debate, will cane and jamie harrison will discuss. first, let's see if the senators manage to do what everyone else in washington can't seem to do, reach a consensus. >> would the senator yield for a question? >> i'd be glad to just hear your comment. >> i'm going to give you a chance to speak again. does the senator believe that defaulting on our national debt for the first time in our history, which has been the threat looming over us from the house republicans and others for

a long period, is good for america's economy? one of his colleagues on the floor here from the state of pennsylvania has come in and said, listen, defaulting on the debt is not that big a deal. it can be, quote, in his words, easily managed. does the senator from arizona agree with that thinking? >> as the senator may know, i came to the floor a couple days ago and made that comment and that the senator from illinois and i are in agreement. point number one. you can prioritize -- i think the senator -- and every economist i know would agree. you can prioritize for a while where up what remaining is left. but the message you send to the world, not just the markets, but the world, that the united states of america is going to default on its debts is a totally unacceptable scenario and nee a great nation. we are in agreement, number one. >> amen. >> number two is that to insist, to insist that any agreement is

based on the passage through the united states senate of a balanced budget amendment to the constitution of the united states, as i said before, is not fair to the american people because the terrible obstructionists on this side of the aisle, their flawed philosophical views about the future of america is not going to allow us to get 20 additional votes from your side assuming that you get all 47, since it requires 67 votes to pass a balanced budget amendment under the constitution. not only a wrong assessment, it's not fair to the american people to say we can pass a balanced budget amendment to the constitution through the senate at this time. now, maybe after the senator is defeated in the next election and we get rid of a lot of --

maybe that will happen. but certainly let's not tell the american people that that is a possibility today, because i think it raises their expectations in a way that's not fair to them and frankly detracts from what i think is being done as we speak between the leaders, the president, democrat leaders and republican leaders, which is in a very short time frame. because they did send us here to govern. i think the senator from illinois would agree with me, the last approval rating of congress i saw, both sides of the aisle was about 16%. and i have yet to encounter anyone in that 16% category in my travels back to my state. and by the way, i would like to note the presence of the budget committee chairman here, senator conrad, who i think has made enormous good-faith efforts to reach an agreement on some of these issues.

and i thank him for his work, and i want to assure him his reward will be in heaven, not here on earth. does the senator from illinois have -- >> i would also like to thank the senator from arizona for the few minutes we've shared on floor. i really hope more members will do this rather than just taking turns giving speeches. these exchanges, even when we disagree, are valuable. but at the end of the day, i completely agree. we cannot allow our economy to lapse into this default. it will be devastating to a lot of innocent families and businesses across america and it will cost us dearly in terms of our national debt. let us hope we can find this bipartisan agreement that people are working on even at this moment. >> all right. that's john mccain and dick durbin once again debating the debt ceiling on the senate floor. will cane is in new york and jamie harrison is here as well. he is a partner in the podesta

group and a democratic strategist. i thought i was watching parliament there ask the prime minister for a moment with these two guys going back and forth, will and jamie. jamie, any chance, you mentioned civility, that this might catch on or is this a one-time thing? it is a lesson for everyone, certainly. >> i really hope so. where we really need to see this civility is on the floor of the house of representatives. you know, i worked in the house for six years and when i first got there, you saw debates like that. but now, it's gotten -- you know, there is a lot of vitriol and almost hatred. and we really need to work past that. >> you know what, will, there was a very good question that someone sent me on twitterment they sa twitter. you see a republican and democrat there. but the people that really need to be involved in that sort of discussion were people from the tea party who were elected to go to washington. >> well, you know, don, i got to tell you, i'm not near as

pessimistic about the nature and the status of our debate right now. i understand that it's been messy over the past couple months. i think we've had a really, really healthy conversation over the future course of this nation and how we approach spending and taxation. i think it has been -- there have been all kinds of parties contributing to it. that's not ideal scenario. i don't think we should act like this is a big food fight. hit a healthy debate and it should go on. >> you may think it is a healthy debate but i don't think most americans are privy to that. ey see that nothing has been done and here we are at the 11th hour and snoi agreemethere is s agreement. i mean it is almost august 2nd and the markets open in a few hours. did it really to take this long? that's the frustration if they had just got all together and talked like that, then maybe the process wouldn't take as long. let's talk more about this whole

process. harry reid signed on to the deal. given what you know about the deal, are democrats getting anything done out of this? >> are democrats getting anything done? right now? well, they're getting one thing. we know this. they're going to get it extended beyond president obama's next election cycle. you can say that is the most important thing to democrats now. they lost on substance on most of the points. so, again, they got that going for them. they get to push it beyond the 2012 election. >> jamie, are democrats going to back this? could you see -- could they see a rebellion on the political left? >> well, it all depends. you know, as long as the issues of medicare, social security and medicaid are protected, i think democrats will back this. i mean there are three principle that's democrats really wanted and that president articulated. deficit reduction now, some

talks for deficit reduction in the future, and then also making sure that there were certainty for the marketsment . if that they're there and you protect medicare and medicaid and social security, you'll see a large number of democrats that will support this. >> will, will republicans approve of this? >> let me tell you this, don. this gets walky. the whole deal is going to boil down to what the trigger is for the second raising of the debt ceiling. the first one is $1 trillion in the near term. everyone is onboard with. that the second one is the key where they bring the special commission together to negotiate the next round of deficit and debt control. the question is, if that committee cannot come together and provide a compromise to congress, there is a trigger that will cut huge -- mark huge defense cuts and huge cuts to medicareme medicare. i do think this will go through.

>> how late are we going to be up tonight, will? >> you may be up. i'm not. >> you're not even going to watch to see what happens? >> this will get done, don. it will get done, man. why wait up all night to know something inevitable. >> i think the announcement will be in the morning. i think they want to make sure it's prime time before the markets open. so we can have good times for the rest of the week. >> all right. thanks to both of you. we'll have one less viewer. tonight i want you to watch at 9:00 p.m. eastern a cnn special report. just what will it take to find a solution to the debt crisis? wolf blitzer and myself will break down the options. don't miss "get it done" right here on cnn. another huge story in the debt talks is the tea party's influence on the house vote and speaker john boehner. that conversation is next with tea party official amy kramer. i, i thought those days might be over. so my doctor prescribed symbicort.

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why are they so stupid and refuse to realize they dmot keep spending money? the bank is broke and they have no more money in the bank. who are they fooling? >> well, that's the american people speaking on cnn's i-report. harry reid in the senate and one of the key players in the long debate signed off on terms of an agreement. his support, however, is pending the approval of his fellow

senate democrats and top democratic source sells cnn that while there is some grumbling about terms of the deal among democratic senators, they're likely to support this compromise. a deal would extend the debt limit through next year moving the debate beyond 2012 and the elections. >> we are putting the pressure on these people that are in these halls right now right now. if it wasn't for us, they would have raised the debt ceiling a couple times and continued to have spent even more. we are the reason that it has not been raised. >> that is a chairwoman of the tea party express amy kramer at a rally this week, proud of the prominent role the tea party is playing in the debt ceiling debate. even if you don't support them, their influence has been undeniable. amy is joining me now from

washington. amy, good to see you. i haven't seen you since new hampshire. how are you doing? >> hey, don. thanks so much for having me. it's good to see you. >> good to see you. >> we've been asking everyone who comes on to not give talking points. i don't think you're the kind of person to come on and give you talking points anyway. the harry reid plan would raise the debt limit to $2.4 trillion and cut spending up to $3 trillion without any tax increases. is that something that you and the tea party can support? >> well, you know, it's-- it has been our truly gut wrenching week here with the back and forth. and my organization, tea party express and i know tea party activists across the country have support this legislation. >> can you support this plan though, amy? is this something that you can support? >> i think we'll have to wait and see what's all in it before we can say we support it. the real thing is it -- this is the big issue -- everybody's made about it the debt ceiling. really, the debt ceiling is only a symptom of a bigger problem.

and that's a massive amount of spending. >> okay. let me ask you this. stop you right there. you said everyone is making it about the debt ceiling. but it seems the tea party or the republicans and some people say it's the extremes in the tea party who have tied the debt ceiling to the deficit debates. and when they're really two separate issues. you said that everyone tied. this you don't think the tea party has done that? >> well, i think everybody has. i mean, honestly, no offense you to, my friend, but the media has done it. because it's an easy identifiable thing. the fact of the matter is that when moody's and s&p 500 and the other credit scoring agen'ses a tlenting to downgrade the credit rating, it's not because of the threat of default on the amount -- the debt that we owe. it's because the amount of debt that we have, the size of our debt. and so that's what's been lost in this. and so you can raise the debt ceiling -- let me finish. you can raise the debt ceiling right now and, you know, you can cut a little spending here and there. but the thing is, this congress

cannot bind future congresses. so if this congress right now were to cut -- >> i want to talk to you. i understand. i get your point. want to get to a lot of topics. i think that because of washington and because of the strategy in this from the right, from the republicans and the tea party saying they won't do -- extend the debt ceiling. so you don't think washington tied this? because we're here in the media and only reporting what's happening in washington. >> no. i mean, it is washington -- look, the whole reason we're in this, you know, i've been getting crucified this past week saying oh, you're only against the democrats and you're against the president. that's not true. i mean, the fact of the matter is our federal government has created this problem. it's been pushed on the tea party movement. i mean as you have heard, i'm sure, now we're being called terrorists and we're holding the country hostage. that's just bologna. we didn't create this situation

we're in. our federal government created it. and here we are on the press hiss of bankruptcy and if the united states of america goes bankrupt, do you really think our children and grandchildren are going to care fit was democrats or republicans that caused it? it is an issue that needs to be resolved and it needs to be resolved now. and all americans want to see resolution to this. >> all right. amy, hold that thought. we're going to talk after the break. don't go anywhere. the chevy cruze eco offers an epa estimated 42 miles per gallon on the highway. how does it do that?

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much of the day we've been meeting with our house democratic leadership. as you know, we met with our leadership of the democrats in the senate. we've been carefully reviewing what the legislation is. we're all determined that we will not default, that senior citizens will receive their social security checks, that our military will be compensated in a timely fashion and that list goes on. that the united states will honor its obligations. >> that was democratic leader nancy pelosi just moments ago in washington, just moments ago updating us on the situation. now listen to this. >> why are republicans allowing freshmen congressmen to control this debate? and this person said, it's like letting the teenager in the family run the family budget. i mean, there's some truth in that. >> look, we don't have any more internal differences in its

republican conference and the house and senate than they do in the democratic conference in the house and senate. >> all right. that was senate minority leader mitch mcconnell dismissing the idea that they're holding the republican party hostage in the debt ceiling debate. i want to bring back tea party express chairwoman amy kramer. amy, what do you think? is that offensive to you? what do you make of that statement? >> actually, you know what? there may be many teenagers that can do a better job in washington. no, look, it's no -- it's no secret that the tea party movement, this grassroots movement is driving this debate. as you played in the clip earlier this week, from earlier this week, if it weren't for this movement, there would have already been a blank check signed and they'd be on to the next issue. we are the reason and we're not here to promote the republican party whatsoever. our objective is to bring conservatives to washington. but the republican party needs to remember if it weren't for this movement, they wouldn't have the power that they have

right now in the house of representatives. and we sent these people there to do a job. that's what we want them to do. the people spoke loud and clear last november that they want to reign in the spending. that goes for all of washington. >> amy, let's talk directly to the viewer. why do you cut them off? you understand we have limited time here to do this segment. >> i understand. >> and to go on -- you get it, right? sometimes the viewer doesn't get it. >> i do. >> the party vehemently opposes tax increases. i want you to listen on what tax increase was mean for the economy at this point. >> increasing taxes wouldn't hurt any more than cutting spending. both would decrease the amount of demand in the economy. to say taxes would hurt the economy is kind of code for cutting spending is okay but taxes are not. that's simply not true. >> right. >> raising taxes may be less gill takerous than cutting spending. >> amy, he's not alone in saying that.

so why does the tea party disagree with that? is the argument about cutting and revenues? is it up side down here maybe? >> look, you know, to ask for tax increases is to ask to spend more money. and it's just simply not acceptable. we need to cut our spending. you cannot -- you cannot do tax increases enough to balance the united states budget. you are going to have to cut spending. that's the bottom line. you can spin it any way you want, you can't get away from it. we have a spending problem. washington has an addiction to spending. i hate to say it. you know, they do. >> i don't think anyone will disagree that we need to get the spending under control and the deficit and debt. come on that, is common sense. i think everyone can agree on that. i have to ask you this, amy, how do you feel about what the tea party has done and what believe is a very short amount of time that we have gotten to this point and you say? large part because of the tea party? very quickly. i only have a few seconds. >> look, the tea party hasn't created this problem right here. the tea party has shined the

light on the addiction that washington has. the tea party forced the issue. >> i mean where we come in this -- where we are now with the tea party and the deal and what the tea party has forced and negotiated. that's what i'm asking you about. how do you feel? you have to be proud of it. >> no, i think we've absolutely -- we've put our mark on this debate. we're not going to back down. we want to rein in the spending. at the end of the day, americans want a solution. they don't want a deal. we're tired of the deals. the deals are what have gotten us into this problem. >> amy kramer, appreciate you coming on. no talking points. thank you so much. i appreciate it. >> thank you. >> have a good one. we'll all be watching tonight. make sure you watch at 9:00 p.m. eastern, a cnn special report, just what will it take to find a solution to the debt crisis in wolf blitzer and i break down the obstacles and optionsme. don't miss "get it done." if you were blinded by an attacker, would you support eye for an eye punishment?

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what is the basis of a

democracy? compromise. >> we're hearing from you on these debt talks in washington. the american people from our i reports. we'll get it on the air. an iranian woman disfigured in a horrifying assault proves much more merciful to her attacker than he ever was to her. and two young americans locked up in iran could soon learn their fate. we have a reporter following both stories. we should -- the one about the acid. the images are tough to watch. she was merciful. >> she was. this is a sad but strange story in the way it all came together at the end. and it brought together a very heated debate on should islamic law be carried out, an eye for an eye? should that be implemented? and as we see in this case, we reported on this in 2009, she was followed by the suitor who consistently pursued her for about, you know, two years. wanted her and she denied him.

and then he threw acid in her face and today was her day where she could say, you know what? after all the suffering that i've been through over the past seven years, i can now seek revenge. and at the last minute, at the 11th hour, she decided to pull back. >> they were about to pour the acid. >> yes. he was down. the doctor was ready to go. she said, you know what? i pardon him. i allow him to go. and the interesting thing is that behind the scenes we were talking to our producer out in iran and he was saying that he was hearing that he was still rude to her after all of that. you know? and it just makes you think, it really makes you think. one other thing i want to point out with this. she even said when you have the power in your hands and when you grant someone forgiveness, that's being the bigger person. >> that's a whole big thing. because she's obviously much better off than he is. i'm sure he's dealing with his own personal demons. let's talk about the hikers. >> that's right. today they had their final hearing. and it lasted four hours. so the lawyer of the two hikers

still in custody came out and said we can expect a verdict as early as next week. and this rise on the eve of ramadan and the holiest month of the islamic calendar. that's generally when people are pardoned and -- go ahead. >> i was going to say, this has been playing out for them. i'm sure they want to get this overwith. >> yeah, absolutely. after all this time. i mean two years. the two men are still there. >> can you imagine two years to be in iran and then spending that time in -- much of that time in prison? my gosh. >> and not knowing. >> not knowing. thank you. we'll be watching you guys, cnn international, as you cover and watch those stories. president obama reacts to a massive attack in syria calling it horrifying. that report coming up next. [ male announcer ] get ready for the left lane. the volkswagen autobahn for all event is back. right now, get a great deal on new volkswagen models,

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♪ ♪ sing polly wolly doodle all the day ♪ ♪ hah

i implore john boehner, nancy pelosi, harry reid and mitch mcconnell to create one unified plan. >> as a matter of fact, nancy pelosi came out a short time ago reassuring the american people that something would get done. and that benefits would be paid. we're paying close attention to this story. we're hearing your voices and we're not going far away.

we want to turn to other news. turning to the middle east, a bloody day in syria. tanks attacked a city of hama. witnesses are saying the tanks rolled in just before dawn and started firing indiscriminantly in residential neighborhoods. syrian forces were battling armed gangs that had taken over partsst it of the city. at least 71 people were reported killed. cnn cannot independently verify the death toll. president obama said today he was appalled by the carnage and vowed to put more pressure on syria's leadership. in a statement, the president said, "the reports out of hama are horrifying and demonstrate the true character of the syrian regime." in cairo, egypt, a fire in

the cockpit sent nearly 300 passengers racing for the exits. look at that. it happened just before takeoff. the egyptair boeing 777 was still at the gate when the co-pilot saw smoke coming out of the instrument panel. several minor injuries were reported among the passengers as they evacuated. the fire was put out and another flight took the passengers to saudi arabia. well, from dancing with the stars to the new england patriots, shad ochocinco is making the move and it's caught some people by surprise. a lot of people, forecast. we're going to talk about it from "sports illustrated" right on the other side of the break. i got mine in iraq, 2003. u.s.a.a. auto insurance is often handed down from generation to generation, because it offers a superior level of protection and because u.s.a.a.'s commitment to serve the military, veterans, and their families is without equal. begin your legacy. get an auto insurance quote.

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♪ not bad. remember chad ocec ochocincoo "dancing with the stars." he made news, joining the new england patriots. joining me now, john wertheim, "sports illustrated." a cover you shall see.

there it is. featuring arizona cardinals receiver larry fitzgerald. okay, john. can't believe i'm saying this. the lockout over. patriots shocked a lot of people by acquiring a couple of guys who had warn out their welcome with their old teams. what were the patriots thinking? >> got them cheap. two controversial players but so cheap. like getting a hugo boss suit on clearance. get them to work, a bargain. can't get the stain out, no great loss. interesting to see how they blend in. the patriots didn't pay a big price for either of those players play e playe players. >> i love you for doing this. the direct answer, they got them cheap. not like, with all the things going around and this, and because we believe -- they got them cheap. thank you. so refreshing. the patriots already one of the favorites to win the super bowl. are they running a risk of upsetting their locker room especially with haynesworth, at odds with the coachein washington?

>> that's the big one. chad, i can't say, ochocinco, flamboyant, fun will probably turn it down. haynesworth is potentially nor problematic and potentially, a great, great player. a serial malcontempt lately. really the risky acquisition. they've got to believe, they brought him in, if you come here will you do x? this wasn't a blind signing? this could really pay off for the patriots. >> you saw the "dancing with the stars" thing. ochocinco took part in a professional bull riding, a tryout way soccer team. will the patriots put up with his flare for publicity? >> keep it light. a guy who's been in kansas city, cincinnati, happy been on gre cincinnati, hasn't been on great team. a serial twitter. these thrilled to be there. you have a sense he's going to tone it down a little. haynesworth is problematic.

chad johnson, a fun guy that will tone it down a bit, i feel. a major league umpire gets death threats at his home after missing a call that gave the atlanta braves victory over the pittsburgh pirates. look at the play. john, the game started with a temperature in the 90s. do you think umpire jerry neals was just ready to call it a night after six hours and 39 minutes? it was 1:50 in the morning? >> i think his wife was calling him saying, when are you getting home? and he just botched this call. i think -- we've seen the video. indisputably a bad call. it was two teams in a game of significance. i think baseball -- they've really resisted this, but the technology exists tonight to get all of these calls right. it's not prohibitively inexpensive. it's going to take calls like this, eventually baseball la to

move to replay. too much is at stake to allow human errors to botch these calls. >> even the umpire admitted it once he saw the replay he made the wrong call. i think maybe there's something to that. so what happens if the pirates should miss a playoff? the playoffs? my last question, by one game? and by changing the rules here? what happens? >> right. then i think -- we've really got impetus for replace. that's what everybody is looking for and already everybody put an asterisk on this game. one on this botched call. it's a shame. we all love tradition. baseball's steeped in it but we can get it right. i can't imagine many other businesses thumbing their nose at accuracy. rye not get it right all the time. the pirates miss the playoff it's by one game and everybody goes back to this game in late july, maybe we'll finally get instant replay on baseball. >> a good quote. not many businesses thumb their nose at accuracy.

well put. the author of the book "sportscasting" and with "sports illustrated." appreciate it, sir. see you next week. more at the top of the hour on the debt ceiling crisis right after the break, and new tape from nancy pelosi. he new comments. plus a check on the asian markets with a report out of tokyo. they're opening shortly. you know, it's the news you'll only get right here on cnn. that's why i like glucerna shakes. they have slowly digestible carbs to help minimize blood sugar spikes, which can help lower a1c. [ male announcer ] glucerna. helping people with diabetes find balance. an accident doesn't have to slow you down. with better car replacement available only with liberty mutual auto insurance, if your car's totaled, we give you the money for a car one model year newer.

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